FUNNY CAR

The NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T led by masterful crew chief Rahn Tobler and his assistant Eric Lane had everything calculated to perfection, and with the NAPA Know How crew directed Ron Capps to his second NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series title in six days. Capps also was the No. 1 qualifier, the first time he has ever been on the pole in back-to-back races.

Capps also is the new points leader after defeating DSR teammate Jack Beckman in the fourth all-Mopar final of the season. Beckman is 27 points behind in second.

It was Beckman's third trip to a championship round through 10 events but the 2012 Funny Car world champion continues to seek his first Wally trophy of the year. But the Infinite Hero team moved up to second in Mello Yello points and will trail Capps by 27 points when the series resumes Friday, June 17, at Bristol, Tenn., with the Thunder Valley Nationals.

"Going to the final round and losing is frustrating,” Beckman said. “You feel like you just didn't capitalize on the day. If I were to be philosophical, a runner-up finish might be overachieving for us today. We struggled. We didn't get computer data on our first two runs. We're still trying to zero in on the combination for the brand new chassis we're running right now.”

Things have not been coming up roses for defending Funny Car champ Del Worsham this season. He won the first round over Blake Alexander and the second against Tommy Johnson Jr., but lost to Capps in the semifinal.

Capps defeated John Hale, John Force, and Del Worsham leading up to the final, where Beckman’s Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T was one of many cars that lost traction on the tricky track.

Beckman got past Alexis DeJoria, Matt Hagan and Jeff Diehl to get to the finals.

Privateer Jeff Diehl made it to the semifinals, defeating Robert Hight in the first round, Tim Wilkerson (shown) in the second, but then falling to “Fast Jack” Beckman.